YCA Blog

And welcome to the weekly blog we call the Lesson! Every Wednesday we will invite you to express yourselves by making lists, responding to prompts, and
reading texts. Many of these prompts were developed by the YCA Artistic team for our weekly writing workshops, Check The Methodand Wordplay. If you write poems to these prompts or have thoughts on the readings
tag us in your own social media posts (@youngchiauthors on Twitter & @youngchicagoauthors on Instagram).

Personal Mythology

This writing prompt comes from Check The Method and features two poems by DC-based poet Safia Elhillo from her collection The January Children. Safia's poems inspired
us to reimagine stories from our personal history using specific details and vivid imagery. If you enjoy this prompt consider registering for our Write
to the City...

Welcome to the Top Five. We know it's Monday and you may be looking for inspiration, and we are here to help! Every Monday, we will be inviting some of
our favorite artists to share five links that inspire them. Tune in to find some new music, poems, and more.

1) Edie Fake taught me a lot about what it means to honor, celebrate, and organize queer and trans community in Chicago. He's an incredible artist who
envisions queer spaces in the past, present, and future. I'm really loving the 7th issue of Gaylord Phoenix, a long running comic series that he's drawn
over the years.

2) If You Are Over Staying Woke by Morgan Parker. I listen to this poem
when I'm having a rough day or when I need encouragement. It reminds...

Welcome to our newly rebranded Friday blog, The Plug. Here we will be posting weekly about competitions, events, workshops, etc. that you can partake in.
Some of these competitions and events are hosted by your next-door neighbors, and some from friends across the country. Many of these opportunities
are rooted in poetry and others will allow you to explore different types of writing and art forms. If you explore any of these opportunities, share
the experience on social media and tag us (@youngchiauthors on Twitter & @youngchicagoauthors on Instagram).

Competitions/Publications:

Youth Speaks– I Want To Live

“Across the United States, young men of color are often presented by the media – and perceived by the public, the police and law enforcement – as threatening, dangerous, and criminal. This puts them in life-threatening situations. ...

And welcome to the new weekly blog we call The Lesson! From this Wednesday forward we invite you to express yourselves. Every week we
will be sharing a writing prompt from either Check The Method or Wordplay. These workshops are
developed If you write poems to these prompts or have thoughts on the readings tag us in your own social media posts- we are @youngchiauthors
on Twitter & @youngchicagoauthors on Instagram.

Lists:

Make a list of things you were embarrassed about when you were younger
Make a list of things you wish you had when you were younger
Make a list of things you inherited from your parents or elders
Make a list of things you rejected/tried not to...

Welcome to the Top Five. We know it's Monday and you may be looking for inspiration, and we are here to help! Every Monday, we will be inviting some of
our favorite artists to share five links that inspire them. Tune in to find some new music, poems, and more.

Here’s to the second edition of The Resource. We will continue to post weekly about competitions, events, workshops, etc. that you can partake in. While
many of these opportunities stay local, don’t be afraid to indulge folks across the country with your lyricism. Many of these opportunities while rooted
in poetry, will also allow you to explore different types of writing and art forms. If you explore any of these opportunities, share the experience
on social media and tag us (@youngchiauthors on Twitter & @youngchicagoauthors on Instagram).

Competitions/Publications:

Youth Speaks– I Want To Live

“Across the United States, young men of color are often presented by the media – and perceived by the public, the police and law enforcement – as threatening,
dangerous, and criminal. This puts them in life-threatening situations. YOUTH...